I was secretly rushing to finish menu art for them: Easter, Valentine's Day and Tea Salon menus.

The cold weather has come back and made us put our hats, coats, mufflers and gloves back on, but I'm sticking with my bunnies and daffodils! I found these bunnies at Les Fleurs, 3 Passage de la bonne Graine 75011. I'm going back to Paris end of March

Thank you PBers for buying my watercolors :) I want to see all the Easter/chocolate shenannigans and I'm going to visit Les Fleurs too.

Evidently chocolate fish are very BIG for French Pacques / Easter and I want to know why..? It's all strictly for research mind you.

21 comments:

I am surprised with myself...but the chocolate fish look great. It seems unusual, but there is something appealing about them!? Have a wonderful time in Paris, Carol! My husband and I are still dreaming of the day we go:) Ah, Paris in the springtime!! Maybe I should put some money away from my oils for Paris. Love your watercolors! ~Heidi

OH! And SHRIMP. And no one has ever been able to explain it to me, either, although I have tried. Something to do with Lent? The fish are probably connected to the Poisson d'Avril.

Carol, go to A la petite Fabrique, one of my favorite chocolatiers because they actually make the chocolate on the premises, which is rare but smells wonderful. At Easter, they always have the most delicious chocolate shrimp. They're near the Bastille. I'll email you the address, if you want.

Shabby anyone who wants to come along to Paris can join me!Just don't expect to travel in my very small suitcase, filled with paints enroute and chocolate boxes on the return + CHOCOLATE SHRIMP for Ms. BLAME IT ON PARIS!Maybe I should start Paris - patisserie/painting tours...Hmmmm...

Yes HMMMM.. Paris - patisserie/painting tours...What a kick that would be. ;-) I see a bit of Fauchons snuck into your paintings today. ;-) I love the Faberge egg you painted...and your Daffodils.... It was so beautiful yesterday that I was out photographing my Daffodils thinking how pretty they would be painted in a watercolor, and low and behold I find this morning that Carol has done that very thing. Congrats on your menu Art. Beautiful work. Can't wait for the new blogs and paintings that will come from your up coming trip to Paris. Very happy to have been of help there.. :-)Goodness, so much packed in this post today. Cris in OR

Great images--love the RTR artwork you did--congratulations, Carol! So, you're heading to Paris end of March...I'm heading to...Ohio!!!?? for work. (What's wrong with this picture!) Have a blast! We'll look forward to what else you come up with.

Lucky you...I am trying to go back in June for a big family fiesta. The chocolate fish tradition is a blend of the Poisson d'Avril on the 1st and the symbol of christianity. It is not really clear which came first so it is a blend...!

It's past my cappuccino time, and I am missing you(r post). Am a little worried, according to a little bird painting I own, "Sometimes the early bird gets frozen stiff!". Hope you are under warm covers or, better, the weather turned to spring over there, too!

I checked with my French daughter in law about the fish and she said she didn't really have a good explanation but it could have something to do with fasting during lent and only being able to eat fish. I also wondered if it had to do with Jesus after the resurrection grilling fish for the disciples by the sea of galilee....I kind of like that answer myself! Jerie

You know, being half French and having lived in Paris most of my life I'd never even wondered about the chocolate fish! Apparently it comes from John 21, 1-19... wherein apparently, John gives a meaning to the prophesy of Ezequiel: with the resuscitation of Christ is born a new world where fish sympbolise the Baptised who come alive as they come out of the water (loosely translated from the French!). Now I know why you get bags of "friture", or little fish, every Easter. And bells. But that's another story....

Chocolate-Fish, so incongruous, it reminds me of another Paris fave - JP Hevin's chocolate-cheeses! yum so delicious, once you get over the slightly weird idea. just think of it as cheesecake enrobed in luxurious chocolate, but with a little hint of roquefort or epoisses coming through for a kick. You should check them out next time you're on rue vavin.

Carol, are you sure those fish (looking like big sardines)are for Easter?... When seeing them,I wondered whether they could be for Fools'Day (April 1st)... when paper fish are hung in people's backs. -Maybe fishing the fools there-. Maybe... only suggesting it... because I have never seen that kind of chocolate fish before...But in that shop, they definitely want to be different, whatever the event, either Fools'Day or Easter !!!

ParisBreakfast Letters

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5. I'm still at it on l'Ile Saint-Louis In Paris. Subscribe to my watercolor Paris letters and maps on Etsy and enjoy a Parisian souvenir in your mailbox every month. Savor with a hot chocolate and croissant.
I paint Paris dreams.